An analysis of referral patterns from a breast screening unit

The reasons for referral from a breast screening unit are reviewed, together with the subsequent outcome and biopsy findings. 4.94% of persons attending were referred for assessment in a breast clinic, biopsy being performed on 2.09% with a detection rate of 4.1 cancers per 1000. 24.4% of the cancers were palpable and 36.6% were non-invasive. A rounded ill-defined mass was the commonest mammographic reason for biopsy. Cancer was found in 15.2% of cases with microcalcification. In no case did clinical examination in the screening unit reveal cancer which was not detected on mammography.